Ridgefield Press
ARTS: New choral group has first Ridgefield concert today

Mar 1, 2008

Camerata d%u2019Amici, a four-part choral ensemble made up mostly of Ridgefielders, will give its first Ridgefield performance today at 4 at the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church. Many of the singers used to belong to the St. Stephen%u2019s choir. The concert will feature a mixture of sacred, spiritual and traditional musical selections.

The Camerata d’Amici, a local choral music group, will be making its Ridgefield debut performance today Saturday, March 1, at 4 p.m. at the Jesse Lee Memorial Church, 207 Main Street.

Formed in October 2006, the Camerata d’Amici has performed in the area in the past, but this will mark the group’s first formal concert in Ridgefield.  With a majority of Camerata d’Amici members living in Ridgefield, the group of more than 40 auditioned singers says it is delighted to be bringing its music “home.”

According to the group’s founder and musical director Kristin Sponheim, “Concert attendees can expect to hear a variety of musical pieces, ranging from classical works to well-known spirituals and everything in between. I have been pleased with the group’s appreciation for and ability to handle a wide spectrum of fine music.”

The concert will feature several unaccompanied, or “a cappella,” pieces as well as some with piano accompaniment. The group’s repertoire includes works by an accomplished set of composers including Felix Mendelssohn, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Randall Thompson, Maurice Durufle and Umberto Giordano. A few of the musical pieces currently in the group’s repertoire include “O Pastorelle, Addio” by Giordano, “Exultate Deo” by Palestrina and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Thompson.

Seating for the concert will begin at 3:30 p.m. Free-will donations, with a suggested amount of $15 per person, will be accepted at the door and during intermission.

Camerata d’Amici’s soprano section includes Susie Ahern, Laurie Bachmann, Nora Barton, Kristin Bryson, Anne Giroux, Lizzy Hanson, Lucy Heaton, Barbara Lawrence, Susan Mleczko, Marcia Needleman, Martha Morris, Dolly Patterson, Eliza Shanley, Courtenay Snellings and Lillian Willis.

Alto members are Linda Berry, Susan Bozso, Grace Briccetti, Karen Brotherhood, Nancy Clifford, Meredith Davis, Isabel Forbes, Patrice Gillespie, Barbara Hamachek, Julie Henderson, Louise Klump, Joan Loos, Stephanie McKale, Cathy Norgauer, Carol Schabacker and Victoria Secunda.

The tenor section consists of Peter Bachmann, William McKale, Chris O’Neill, Nick Peterson and Dan Wellers.

The basses are John Brotherhood, Tom Carr, Jim Clifford, Tom Figgatt Sr., Michael Forbes, Jeff Krulwich and Dave Willis.

“Camerata d’Amici’s mission is to provide a choral music resource for the local area, which encompasses both upper Fairfield and Westchester counties,” said Ms. Sponheim. “The group’s goal is to encourage singing and to perform choral music of the highest quality, both sacred and secular. The group hopes to offer its art to people of all ages so that they may develop a keener appreciation for and enjoyment from choral music.”

The group’s spring concert on May 17  will also take place at the Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church.

Camerata d’Amici maintains a year-round open audition schedule. Persons interested in joining are encouraged to contact Ms. Sponheim at 938-3711 or by e-mail at kmsponheim@juno.com. Rehearsals take place Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church in South Salem, N.Y.

Camerata d’Amici is incorporated in the state of Connecticut and is in the process of applying for 501(c)3 status.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers